News & Insights
Photo courtesy of: Greg Land
Ceremonies mark a new home for career training in D.C. and a new school in Maryland
Two ribbon-cuttings six days apart celebrated B&D projects serving learners at different stages of life: Washington residents preparing for new careers and middle school students in Riverdale, Maryland.
Spingarn: Back to work
Mayor Muriel Bowser and officials from the District’s departments of Employment Services and General Services cut the ribbon Oct. 1 on the DC Infrastructure Academy’s new home at the former Spingarn High School in Northeast Washington.
The historic Ward 5 campus now has a new teaching assignment: preparing DC residents for careers in the industries that keep the city running. The academy’s new quarters include 50,000 square feet of renovated interior space and 12,000 square feet of outdoor training space, with an automotive lab and a Pepco training yard.
Some of the lessons will require considerably more room than a classroom desk. The automotive bays accommodate hands-on training with large vehicles, including Metro buses, giving participants experience with the equipment they could encounter on the job.
The academy has served more than 6,500 District residents since its launch in 2018. Its move into Spingarn gives it room to expand training, while IT and cybersecurity programs will continue at its Shannon Place location in Southeast Washington.
William Wirt: A campus worth the wait
Six days later, the celebration moved to Riverdale, where an Oct. 7 ribbon-cutting marked completion of the William Wirt Middle School replacement project.
The approximately $85 million project replaced a 1964 building that had struggled with overcrowding, poor air quality and deteriorating building systems. Its replacement spans 168,500 square feet, with capacity for up to 1,200 students.
Inside, the three-story school groups classrooms by grade, with shared areas for students to work together. A dance studio, band and choral rooms, and a video production studio give the arts a substantial presence alongside science and technology spaces. The cafeteria includes a performance stage, and the media center opens onto an outdoor terrace.
Even a lesson outside can stay connected: the outdoor classroom has Wi-Fi and power outlets. Dedicated community-use space also gives neighbors a place in the new campus.
Designed by Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates Architects and built by Keller Brothers, the project proceeded through four phases, from preparing the site and constructing the new school to demolishing the old building and completing the grounds, including ball fields and parking.
